The San Francisco 49ers had one of the deepest draft classes in the NFL last offseason, taking 11 players in the 2025 NFL Draft, as they looked to get younger and add depth at key positions.
Defense was the name of the game early, as the 49ers took defensive players with their first five picks before selecting wide receiver Jordan Watkins at the end of the fourth round. Several players were forced into big roles early, and a number of rookies flashed in Year 1.
With the season over, let’s look back
and evaluate every rookie’s season and what to expect in 2026. Earlier this month, I looked at all the rookies on defense and evaluated their seasons. Now, it’s time to look at the five offensive rookies and their production.
WR Jordan Watkins (Round 4, Pick 138)
As for a couple of players on the list, injuries were the name of the game for Watkins this season. He played in only four games for the 49ers, catching two passes for 26 yards. When considering his draft stock, that can be seen as disappointing, but maybe not out of the ordinary for a fourth-round pick on a talented team.
But Watkins had a really good offseason, consistently flashing as a speedy receiver, which the 49ers badly needed this season without Brandon Aiyuk.
However, injuries limited him for the first two months of the season, and he only made his NFL debut in Week 8, catching one pass while playing five offensive snaps. He caught another pass against the New York Giants the week after while playing six snaps, but only saw two in Week 10 against the Los Angeles Rams.
He played in only one more game this season while dealing with other injuries. The 49ers need more speed, so Watkins should compete in 2026, but he was behind a number of veterans who were inconsistent late in the season.
RB Jordan James (Round 5, Pick 147)
James was drafted to be a backup for the 49ers, who were returning Isaac Guerendo and Christian McCaffrey. But, seeking an upgrade at the spot, San Francisco traded for Brian Robinson before the season to back up McCaffrey.
That put James even lower on the depth chart for carries, so he didn’t make much of an offensive impact this year. A finger injury also limited him to only three games this season, and he had no touches on offense, although he did see some special teams snaps when playing.
This is another what-if. Guerendo doesn’t seem like the backup of the future, so an opening is there. But will the 49ers trust James to fill that role?
QB Kurtis Rourke (Round 7, Pick 227)
You can’t really evaluate this pick because the 49ers specifically drafted Rourke with 2026 and beyond in mind. The former Indiana quarterback was coming off a torn ACL and was expected to miss much of the 2025 season. With Mac Jones in place and Adrian Martinez as the No. 3 quarterback, there was no need to have much of an impact from Rourke in 2025.
Now, expect him to be the No. 3 quarterback behind Jones (assuming the 49ers keep him) in 2026, with the possibility of a bigger role in the future.
OL Connor Colby (Round 7, Pick 249)
Colby was one of San Francisco’s more important rookies this season in a variety of ways. He impressed during the offseason and was immediately thrust into a bigger role when Ben Bartch went down with a multi-week injury, stepping in at left guard to start the year.
That came with its ups and downs. Colby had his flashes in the run game, but definitely saw his fair share of struggles with pass protection and communication, and it was clear he wasn’t fully ready for the opportunity.
Offensive line is a position that takes time to develop, and getting one in the seventh round is primarily for depth purposes. That’s what Colby will be for the next few years, with the possibility to develop into a low-end starter late in his rookie contract.
WR Junior Bergen (Round 7, Pick 252)
This was a pick that I questioned at the time, and it feels like a big question mark one year in. Yes, the 49ers spent a late seventh-round pick here, so the expectations won’t be that high.
But Bergen was drafted primarily for his special teams help as a returner. He didn’t offer much as a receiver, which the 49ers prefer from their returners, and didn’t play in a single game this season. There just didn’t feel like much floor or upside here.
It feels like he’ll have an uphill battle to make the roster in 2026.
